Tebeitoey



(No Model.)

J. T. GRAY.

BOOT TOP AND MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME. No. 369,240. Patented Aug. 30,1887 N BBS: E d/ zQw J 32 0;

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rricn.

JOHN THOMAS GRAY, on GRAY, DAKOTA rnnnr'ronr.

BOOT-TOP AND MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,240, dated August30, 1887.

Application filed June 215, 1887. Serial No. 242,309.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN THOMAS GRAY, of Grayfitutsman county, Dakota,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin B0ot- Tops and inthe Method of Forming the Same, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part thereof, in which Figure l is a side elevation ofthe front section of a boot-top prior to forming the fold. Fig. 2 isasimilar view showing the fold formed, and also showing the back sectionof the leg. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line or m of Fig. 2, andFig. is a side elevation of the two sections secured together.

The object of the invention is to lessen the labor and therefore thecost of making boots; and the invention consists,principally, in forming the front section with a fold or swell adjacent to the lower ends ofits edges at the rear of the vamp, substantially-as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

A represents the frontof the boot leg,which is crimped over double,andhaving the edges of its leg portion a formed straight from the top tothe point cf, which is somewhat below the top of the instep and thenceinclined rearward, as at a, on a straight line, as shown'in Fig. 1. Theinclined portions of are now brought into line with the straight edgesof the part a, and doubled over to form the folds or swells G, as shownin Fig. 2, which folds are kept in shape by pressing or hammering, or inother suitable manner. The front is now ready for the crimped backB,which is formed with approximately straight edges.

As the swell or fold C has been previously formed, I have only straightseams to stitch, and therefore merely form a lap-joint and stitch thetwo parts of the leg together, and both hands wili be free to manage thework and the machine.

If desired, the front and back may be cc (No model.)

mented together instead of stitched, or both means may be used in someinstances.

The folds or swells 0, formed as described, provide the vamp with thedesired fullness, allowing it to be very quickly fitted to the concavewaist of a last at each side next to the sole of the boot, and strainingof the leather is entirely avoided. By this method a great deal of timewill be saved, as only previouslyformed straight edges have to beunited, and no turning of the completed boot-leg is required. By actualexperiment I find that I can by my method save one honrs time over theordinary method of making a single pair of heavy boot-tops. After thefront and back have been crimped it only requires about twenty minutesto form the fold G and stitch the sections together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patout, is-

1. In the method of forming boot-top fronts, the steps consisting incutting the front with approximately straight rear edges to points at ornear the ankle, and with the rear anguiar extensions therefrom belowsaid points, and finally bringing the angular extensions in line withthe straight edges above them and forming the folds, substantially asset forth.

2. A boot-leg front formed with straight rear edges, and having the fold0 extending from the point a to its lower edge, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination, with the criinped front A, having straight rearedges, and the. folds (1, extending from the point a to its lower edge,of the back B, lapped and stitched to the previously-formed straightrear edges of the front section, substantially as set forth.

JOHN THOMAS GRAY.

Vitnesses:

W. E. KELLY, A. W. DONLY.

